"Everything has it's beauty, but not everyone sees it"
- Confucius
"Beauty", by Robin McKinley is the story of three sisters. The youngest sister is Honour. When Honour was younger, she wanted to know what her name meant. Her father tried to explain to her what Honor meant, but she didn't like it and said she'd rather be called Beauty. The nickname Beauty stuck, even though Beauty is not the most beautiful of the three sisters. Her older sisters, Grace and Hope, had blossemed into beauties themselves, but that didn' t stop the three of them from being close. When their father's shipping business takes a big hit, the family must move to a cabin in the country. Next to the cabin was an "enchanted" forest, where it was said that whoever enters, never returns. Beauty and her sister's are forbidden to enter this dark and mysterious forest.
Years have passed and Beauty's father, in order to save his business, must travel to the city to check on a lost ship. Beauty has one request for her father on his trip; that he bring her back some rose seeds. On her father's trip back home to the cabin, he takes a few wrong turns in the magic forest. It is then that he remember's his promise to Beauty. He plucks a perfect rose off a nearby bush to give to his beloved daughter. Unfortuntley, he has trespassed on the Beast's estate. The Beast demands one of his daughter's in exchange for the stolen rose and his life. He allows Beauty's father to return home to fetch one of his daughters. When she hears of the news, Beauty knows what she must do. She convinces her father and sisters to allow her to live with the Beast, since it was her rose that landed her father in trouble.
The Beast's home is full of wonderful things, invisible servants, magical books, and friendly animals. Beauty and the Beast start off rough, but over time, they grow to be companions, then friends, and then finally discover their love for each other. Even so, Beauty missed her family terribly. The Beast decided to let his love go, but cautioned her. If she is gone for more then a week, a spell would prevent him from living. Beauty is thrilled, and intends to return within a week. However, she is delayed in her travels and arrives a little after a week. Beauty arrives just in time to save the Beast, and by doing so, it allows him to return to his handsome human form.
And they all lived, happily ever after.
Do I Reccommend this Book?
Yes, I do reccommend "Beauty" by Robin McKinley. It was a great book, full of vivid descriptions that allowed you to picture exactly what McKinley had in her head. The only thing that disappointed me a bit was that I knew the ending, having seen the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. The two versions are almost identical, there were only three differences. The first difference was that in McKinley's tale, there wasn't a bad guy. Secondly, they made Beauty much more beautiful in the Disney version then McKinley made in her book. The final difference was that the older sisters, Grace and Hope, were not present at all in the movie, whereas they played a pretty big part in McKinley's book. However, both the book and movie were wonderful. If you are a fan of fairytales, then you are sure to love Robin McKinley's Beauty.
About the Author
Robin McKinley, born Jennifer Caroyln Robin Turrell McKinley, is a well known fantasy author. McKinley has won several awards for her work, inluding a Newbery-Medal for The Hero and the Crown, a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword, and a 1998 Phoenix Award for Beauty. McKinley has written over 15 books, including two different versions of Beauty and the Beast. Her writting centers on heroines, for she believes that girls can "do things." In her spare time, McKinley listens to grand opera and takes long walks to "keep the blood flowing."
Videos
Disney version of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast
Beauty
By: Robin McKinley
"Everything has it's beauty, but not everyone sees it"
- Confucius
"Beauty", by Robin McKinley is the story of three sisters. The youngest sister is Honour. When Honour was younger, she wanted to know what her name meant. Her father tried to explain to her what Honor meant, but she didn't like it and said she'd rather be called Beauty. The nickname Beauty stuck, even though Beauty is not the most beautiful of the three sisters. Her older sisters, Grace and Hope, had blossemed into beauties themselves, but that didn' t stop the three of them from being close. When their father's shipping business takes a big hit, the family must move to a cabin in the country. Next to the cabin was an "enchanted" forest, where it was said that whoever enters, never returns. Beauty and her sister's are forbidden to enter this dark and mysterious forest.
Years have passed and Beauty's father, in order to save his business, must travel to the city to check on a lost ship. Beauty has one request for her father on his trip; that he bring her back some rose seeds. On her father's trip back home to the cabin, he takes a few wrong turns in the magic forest. It is then that he remember's his promise to Beauty. He plucks a perfect rose off a nearby bush to give to his beloved daughter. Unfortuntley, he has trespassed on the Beast's estate. The Beast demands one of his daughter's in exchange for the stolen rose and his life. He allows Beauty's father to return home to fetch one of his daughters. When she hears of the news, Beauty knows what she must do. She convinces her father and sisters to allow her to live with the Beast, since it was her rose that landed her father in trouble.
The Beast's home is full of wonderful things, invisible servants, magical books, and friendly animals. Beauty and the Beast start off rough, but over time, they grow to be companions, then friends, and then finally discover their love for each other. Even so, Beauty missed her family terribly. The Beast decided to let his love go, but cautioned her. If she is gone for more then a week, a spell would prevent him from living. Beauty is thrilled, and intends to return within a week. However, she is delayed in her travels and arrives a little after a week. Beauty arrives just in time to save the Beast, and by doing so, it allows him to return to his handsome human form.
And they all lived, happily ever after.
Do I Reccommend this Book?
Yes, I do reccommend "Beauty" by Robin McKinley. It was a great book, full of vivid descriptions that allowed you to picture exactly what McKinley had in her head. The only thing that disappointed me a bit was that I knew the ending, having seen the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. The two versions are almost identical, there were only three differences. The first difference was that in McKinley's tale, there wasn't a bad guy. Secondly, they made Beauty much more beautiful in the Disney version then McKinley made in her book. The final difference was that the older sisters, Grace and Hope, were not present at all in the movie, whereas they played a pretty big part in McKinley's book. However, both the book and movie were wonderful. If you are a fan of fairytales, then you are sure to love Robin McKinley's Beauty.
About the Author
Robin McKinley, born Jennifer Caroyln Robin Turrell McKinley, is a well known fantasy author. McKinley has won several awards for her work, inluding a Newbery-Medal for The Hero and the Crown, a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword, and a 1998 Phoenix Award for Beauty. McKinley has written over 15 books, including two different versions of Beauty and the Beast. Her writting centers on heroines, for she believes that girls can "do things." In her spare time, McKinley listens to grand opera and takes long walks to "keep the blood flowing."
Videos
Disney version of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast
Quote: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/59100.html
Book Picture: http://www.pelhamonline.com/Sites/Pelham/Images/Library/beauty1.jpg
You Tube Videos:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3t40WcM3PFo&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DGSqt2fD4Xo